政壇：睇社論學英文：餘孽復辟沒安定 舊患不除難繁榮

新年伊始，香港再次淪為遊行之都，示威者再次打出港英旗為殖民地政府招魂，絕非祥和之兆。特首梁振英發表新年祝願，自言和每位市民一樣，對新的三百六十五日，有新的盼望，問題是辭藻漂亮的良好祝願，掩蓋不了港府施政無力扭轉弱勢的事實。

回歸十五年半以來，港府施政混亂，所謂振興經濟、推動產業結構多元化，改善民生，變了不折不扣的口號治港，一事無成，經濟發展停滯不前，市民生活質素下降，作為維持社會穩定力量的中產階級呈現貧窮化趨勢，基層生活更是苦不堪言，累積民怨，社會飽受政治爭拗捲起的風風雨雨折騰，內耗不止，逐漸銷蝕香港的綜合競爭力。曾蔭權治港七年，香港更加沉淪，官商勾結加劇，貧富差距擴大，樓價飆升，尤其不堪的是，曾蔭權爆出貪腐醜聞，敗壞綱紀，貶損香港廉潔奉公的核心價值。

港府過往的種種惡質施政作為，已造成難以補救的傷害。雖然主流民意關注經濟與民生問題，而現屆政府亦有勵精圖治之心，只可惜心有餘而力不足，無法打破舊格局，無法衝破重重阻力，只能徒嘆奈何。「舊的去不了，新的看不到」，香港舊患隨身，要走出困境，重建新生，可謂說易行難。

If the old complaints are not addressed, Hong Kong cannot prosper

With the advent of the New Year, Hong Kong has again become the "capital of demonstrations". Demonstrators waved the old British Hong Kong flag once more to call back the spirit of the demised colonial government, and this is definitely not an auspicious sign. In his New Year speech, the Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said that, like every Hong Kong citizen, he faces the 365 new days with new hopes. The problem is: wishes with grandiloquence cannot cover up the fact of an incompetent government failing to turn the tide.

15 and a half years after the handover, the governance of Hong Kong is still chaotic. The so-called development of economy, promotion of industrial diversification and improvement of people's livelihood are reduced to nothing but empty slogans. While the city's economy is at a standstill and living standard has dropped, the middle class that is supposed to be a stabilising force in society is impoverished and the grass-rooters suffer even more. Hong Kong's competitiveness has gradually been eroded by cumulative grievances, political fights and internal strives. With Donald Tsang's 7-year regime, the city has depraved even more: the Government’s collusion with the business sector is getting more blatant, the gap between the rich and the poor is widening and property prices are soaring. What is even more unbearable is Donald Tsang's misfeasance scandal. Not only did he corrupt discipline, he also derogated the city's core value of an honest and clean civil service.

Poor governance has already inflicted irremediable damage on Hong Kong. The mainstream concerns in the community are now the economy and people's livelihood. Although the Government is also determined to rule better, its ability unfortunately falls short of its wishes, and it is unable to make breakthroughs or overcome obstacles. With so many old complaints, it would be easier said than done for Hong Kong to transcend the predicament and be reborn.

重要生字

turn the tide 扭轉形勢

one's ability falls short of one's wishes 心有餘而力不足

easier said than done 說易行難